Locomotive stoker



Feb. 20, 1934. N M LOWER LOCOMOTIVE STOKER Original Filed Aug. ll, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 NM1 Ima lill/lll:

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Feb. 20, 1934. N, M. LOWER LOCOMOTIVE STOKER Original Filed Aug. ll, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 klm TAL um, mm mw mw. mm. mm, .n .wn hm :1 .o \w m m6 Ow Q ,om .ou Y O vn um l, H um., mw mi \Q.W :ff kw mw C wm m C QM mm.. wl QN Q MN O bum.

N. M. LOWER LOCOMOTIVE STOKER Feb. 20, 1934.

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INVENTOR Feb. 20, 1934. N. M- LOWER 1,947,724

LOCOMOTIVE STOKER Original Filed Aug. ll, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 @www /Mwb Patented Feb. 20, 1934 LoooMoTIvE sToKER Nathan M. Lower, Crestwood, N. Y., assignor to The Standard Stoker Company, Incorporated, a corporation of Delaware Application August 11, 1928, Serial No. 299,013 Renewed July-28, 1933 7 Claims. A(Cl. 11G-113) This invention relates to mechanical stokers for locomotives, although it is not limited to that class of boilers and comprises mechanism for transferring the run-of -mine fuel from the tender into the locomotive in a state suitable for economic firing.

It is an object of this invention to provide a stoker of the type that throws the coal into the re box with more flexibility of control as far as supplying fuel to the various areas of the lire bed than in previous designs.

Another object `is to provide a simple device that will not get out of order easily, that will have few moving parts, and be of a rugged construction, to insure dependability and long life.

A further object of the invention is to charge fuel over the nre bed in small increments to secure the maximum eiciency in burning the coal.

These and other objects will be more readily seen after reading the following description and appended claims in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a sectional view of Vthe boiler and the Stoker taken on the line 1-1 of Fig. 3 near the center line of the locomotive and is somewhat diagrammatic, showing' the buckets that throw the coal into the re box; one bucket being in the lower position and one in the upper position.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2 2 of Fig. 4 near the end of the driving engine crank shaft.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 1, with the right side of the shovel box and the conveyor trough shown in section.

Fig. 4 is an elevation View of the locomotive unit of the stoker, having some parts broken away to expose the rack and pinion that oscillate one of the throwing buckets.

Fig 5 is a section taken through Fig. 4, on the line 5-5 showing the valve mechanism used for controlling the rack and piston that operate the buckets, and is somewhat diagrammatic.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged section. of a portion of the cylinder taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 5 showing the ports communicating with the piston valve.

Referring now to Fig. 1, within the conveying trough 1, which is exibly connected at its forward end by the ball and ball clamp 42 to the box 4 on the locomotive, a helical conveyor screw 2 conveys the coal forward to the mouth 3 of the practically air tight box or riser conduit 4 and moves the coal up the mouth 3 until it falls by gravity into the fuel throwing or projecting buckets 5 and 6. By the term bucket throughout this specification and in the claims hereinafter made is meant a receptacle having sides and a bottom, as distinguished from a mere ram or piston. These buckets move upwardly through thecoal in the lower end of the box 4 and inject 60 the fuel into the fire box.Y The box 4 is mounted l on the back head of the locomotive and supported at the mouth of the box by a laminated leg 12 which is bolted to the locomotive frame; and allows suiiicient movement of the stoker to take care of the boiler expansion. The stoker is supported by the anges 14 on the back head 11 so as to use the lower portion of the fire door opening 13 as an aerial passageway for the coal being projected into the re box.

The bucket 5 is mounted on a square shaft 'l having round ends that journal in the side walls 9 of the box 4. A gear 8 is keyed on the shaft "I, beyond where it is journaled in the side wall 9 and meshes with a rack 10. Secured to the 75 rack, a piston rod 15 connects with the piston 16 which reciprocates in the cylinder 17. A port as 82 and a similar port in the opposite end of the cylinder 17 alternately admit fluid pressure to opposite sides of the piston to reciprocate the piston and rack, and as the bucket 5 nears the end of its travel, the valve mechanism described hereafter acts 'to admit steam to the upper side of the piston 16, cushioning the forward movement of the bucket, starting it on its downward movement, thus allowing the coal to move freely into the fire box. l

, As it is desired to scatter the coal to every part of the fire box, the buckets are set at a slight angle with the center line of the locomotive so a greater area can be covered, and deflecting arms 18 and 19 are used to deflect a portion of the higher stratum of the coal to the extreme sides of the fire box. As shown the deilecting arms are hollow and have near their ends several jet holes 20 through which a blast may be made to issue by applying fluid pressure in the arms through the pipes 21 which extend up through the flo'or 22 of the box 4 midway between the buckets, and connect with the hubs 23 of the arms. The arms are pivotally mounted on the underside of the box cover 24 and are provided with extensions 25 and lock pins 26 for setting the vanes in various positions.

Some of the coal in the lower stratum is deflected to the rear corners with the aid of deflecting plates 30 and 31. Pipes 28 furnish fluid pressure to the jets 29 for blowing the coal to the rear corners. The cooling effect of the steam in the arms 18 and 19 and the distributor plates 110 30 and 31 prevents them from burning away quickly. The distributor plates are rigidly bolted to the inside wall 4b of the box 4 by the bolts 27 and are readily removable. The distributor plates 30 and 31 are set slightly above the lower wall of the iire door opening for admission of cooling air to aid in preventing their burning away.

The central stratum of coal passes between these deflectors and naturally replenishes coal at the center and front corners. Thus the .supplying of coal to any area of the iire bed is within the immediate control of the fireman and a stoker is herein provided with exibility of lcon-- trol that meets the need for a device that can quickly replenish certain areas of the fire bed, as may often be required when operating with a shallow re to secure the highest efiiciency Yfrom the boiler.

The bucket is composed of a hub 74 and a curved outer surface 32 connected to the Ahub 1'14 by a radial wall 73 and side walls 76 extending from the entire curved surface to the hub.

The bucket is divided into two sections 71 and 72 by the wall 73 extending from the Ahub 174 to the curved wall 32. It will be noted that the Vportion 32a of the curved wall and the radial wall 73 and the sides of the bucket form a deep cavity into which the coal falls as it is discharged from Ythe forward end of the throat 3a.

The bucket moves slowly as Ait starts its upward stroke because the live steam port '82 is restricted at 82a (Fig. 6) and the end 75 o'f the Vby the curved wall 32a. In'Figure 1 is illustrated the position of the coal in bucket 6 as the bucket swings upward and is about to discharge into the nre box.

The curved wall 32a plays a prominent part in receiving the coal and discharging itl into the nre box. I nd that the wall V32a 'is indispensable on such a throwing device because if a blade alone were used such as the radial wall '73 the centrifugal force would cause the coal to slide outward against the door 35 and the top `24-and be pulverized by the end of the blade crushing it against the box. If the top of the box weremade of a curvature similar to that of the bucket, a large amount of abrasion would occur, due to the fact that the centrifugal force would cause the coal to press forcibly against the inner surface of the box 4.

Aside from the important function of making an air tight seal in preventing cold air from entering the fire box, the .box is merely used lfor an enclosure for the buckets to prevent injury to box 4, closed as the bucket swings upward. The

curved wall 32 and hub 74 and the sides 76 cooperate with sealing strips 33, 36, and37 in preventing the leakage ofV ne coal dust, of which ordinary run-of-mine coal contains a large percentage. Crimped springs such as 34 hold the sealing strips against the bucket.

The box 4 is provided with a door 35 for inspecting the enclosed mechanisms and removing any foreign material that may be lodged therein. A plate 40 is provided to cover the fore part of the box 4 andv acts as a guard in preventing the coal which may be occasionally thrown too high from being thrown upward into the nre box, which would allowvthe draft to draw away a great deal of the liner particles. The plate 40 is easily removed and the defiecting arms 16 and 19 can be swung apart to permit an easy admittance to the lfire box when boiler repairs are necessary. To -effect-anequal delivery of coal from the conveyor screw to the buckets 5 and 6, the iiange 41 is provided with elongated bolt holes for allowing lateral movement of the ball clamp 42 for shifting ltheconveyor trough laterally as much as may be necessary. It will be noted that the conveyor `1 is set off center on Fig. 3 to offset the uneven delivery accompanying all conveyor screws. Using a left hand screw in this case, the greater portion of the coal will 'be delivered on the left. V.

By setting the trough off center tothe right, rthis may be corrected. Swinging side Wall sections 43, which function as fuel deflector vanes aid further in effecting an even supply to both buckets or vthey may be used to increase the supply t'o one 'bucket over the other by swinging both side walls in the direction of the particular bucket.

The swinging side 43 is pivoted by a shaft 48, supportedin the bearings 44 and 45 and'is capable of being moved by locking member 46 after the nut 47 has 'been screwed oir a considerable disn tance. The shaft 48 is made square near its end whereon lis mounted the locking' member 46 which has 'teeth 49 cooperating with similar teeth on the boss 57 in 'holding'the swinging sides rigid in 'their various portions. l

`The`locking member 46 lfits on the squared portion of the .shaft 48 and is made square at 4its Vupstanding central portion 46d with which a Wrench may be used in moving the swinging sides. The nut 47 must `be screwed down after the adjustment is made to prevent the action of "the coal in the throat of the box 4v3 from moving the s'ides.

The pistons 16 in the cylinders 17 that'operate the buckets are alternately operated in timed relation from a disc 50 mounted on Van 'extension' of .the crank shaftof the engine 52 and enclosed vby a case 53 'bolted to the side of the engine so that some of the oilspray of the engine crank case, will enter and lubricate the mechanism therein.

lThe disc50 has a crank pin '54 that cooperates with a yoke 55 pivoted at7l and attached at'its lower end to a slide rod 56 `in converting the rotarymotion ofthe disc to reciprocating motion .at the slide rod v56. 'The slide rod is yslidably mounted iin the case 53 and extends to a point :midway between the cylinder where its end 57 is .turned up at right angle. The central lportion v58 of a valve rod passes l.through the end 57 of the slide rod and is spaced equally between the spacing collars .65by .the springs66 kand 67.

The vcylinders 17 have A.valve casings 68 cast integral with `them which have piston valves "70 .acting therein rfor supplying steam to opposite vends-of the rack pistons 16.

The .live steam is supplied vto each cylinder byapipe 80provided with a valve -located within easy A4reach of the remans seat. The exhaust steam is carried away by the exhaust pipe V81.

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Porting as commonly found between'suchvalves 70 and cylinders is employed here to furnish live steam to the piston as for example to the upper end by the port 82 leading to the veryend of the cylinder while the exhaust port 83 does not extend all the way to the end of the cylinder which furnishes the cushion for the piston and the bucket at the end of the stroke.

Live steam acts against the lower side of the 'small head 84 of the valve 70 while a port 85 allows the steam to act also on the top side of the large head 86. A small duct 87 allows the steam to also act on the lower side of the large head 86.

` As shown in Fig. 5 the valve is held in its upper position because of the unbalanced pressure upwardly on the valve due to the steam acting on both sides of the large head and on the lower side of the small head, the upper side of the small head being vented to atmosphere.

The valve is thus moved up and down entirely by the unbalanced condition of its heads. When the end 60 of the valve rod 58 is moved to the left the port 88 is opened to atmosphere which will exhaust the steam on the lower side of the head 86 causing the valve 70 to be moved down by the steam acting on the upper side of the head 86. The ports 88 are larger than ports 87 and are set in from the end of the valve chamber to cushion the valve at the end of its stroke.

It is desirable to open the port 88 quickly to exhaust the steam from below the large head 86 of the valve faster than the steam can enter through the duct 87 so the crank pin 54 moves the yoke 55 only when traveling in its horizontal quadrants. In other words the crank pin 54 reciprocates the valve rod 56 quickly from the position shown in Fig. 5 to a similar position on the other side of the center line of the yoke Where it rests while the crank pin 54 is allowed to rotate due to the design of the inner face 89 of the yoke 55.

The rod 59 at the opposite end of the valve rod 58 is shown in position to exhaust the port 89. Connected to the valve rod 59 is an eye bolt 95 smaller in diameter than the rod 59 so the steam may escape around it from the port 89. The eye bolt 95 is connected by a pin 96 to a lever 97 pivotally mounted to some convenient portion of the locomotive and moves back and forth with the valve 59.

The main purpose of the lever is for manually operating the valve rods to cause the buckets 5 and 6 to operate when the engine 52 is not running. The rod 58 is allowed to slide through the upturned end 57 on the slide rod 56 and compresses either the spring 66 or 67 depending upon the direction in which it is moved and is capable of operating the buckets regardless of the position of the rod 56, a door 98 is provided in the deck of the locomotive so a fireman can use a grate shaker bar on the lever 97 for operating it. This lever 97 also serves the fireman as an indicator in showing him how fast the stoker is running.

The driving engine 52 as shown here is a low speed engine and the disc 50 is rotated directly by the crank shaft. The frequency of the bucket movements must be such to deliver fuel to the fire box as fast as it is being delivered into the throat 3a of the box 4.

Gearing in a box 105 may be used in connection with the engine 52 to run the flexible drive shaft 106 the proper speed to feed the correct amount of coal to the locomotive fire box.

The iiexible shaft 106 is flexibly connected at Such construction From lthe foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a stoker that delivers coal to a plurality of .buckets that forcefully discharge it into the fire box through part of the fire door and that hI provide a very flexible means for supplying fuel to any part of the re box and that throughout the stoker is simple in construction and operation.

I claim: l. In al locomotive having a flrebox provided with a backhead having a firing opening; a plurality of oscillating swinging buckets for elevating fuel 'and discharging the same into the rebox through said opening, said buckets being mounted to swing in vertical planes which are inclined with respect to the medial vertical plane of the firebox.

2. In combination with a locomotive having a cab deck and a rebox provided with a backhead having a firing opening above said deck, a casing in communication with said opening and extending above and below said deck, a plurality of buckets pivotally mounted in said casing and arranged to oscillate in planes which are inclined with respect to the medial vertical, plane of the rebox for elevating fuel through said casing and discharging it therefrom through said firing opening into said iirebox and means for imparting to said buckets a slow initial motion during their respective upward stroke and a rapid acceleration during the remainder of their upward stroke.

3. In combination with a locomotive having a cab deck and a rebox provided with a backhead having a firing opening above said deck, a

casing in communication with said opening and extending above and below said deck, aplurality of buckets pivotally mounted in said casing and arranged to cscillate in planes which are inclined with respect to the medial vertical plane of the rebox for elevating fuel through said casing and discharging it therefrom through said firing opening into said rebox, a conveyor conduit delivering fuel to said buckets, said buckets being arranged for alternately receiving fuel from said conduit and for alternately projecting fuel into said rebox and means for imparting to said buckets a slow initial motion during their respective upward stroke and a rapid acceleration during the remainder of their upward stroke.

4. In combination, a rebox having a backwall with a firing opening therein, a conduit communicating with said ring opening, and fuel projecting means adjacent the forward end of said conduit outside the firebox, and deecting means pivoted in said conduit rearward of but adjacent said fuel projecting means to be adjustable and movable inwardly of the conduit, said deflecting means comprising a pair of oppositely disposed deflector vanes pivotally mounted one at each side of the conduit on upstanding axes and positioned to act on the fuel as it advances into the zone of action of the fuel projecting means.

5. In combination, a rebox having a backhead with a firing opening therein, a riser conduit communicating with said ring opening, fuel projecting means mounted in said riser rearward of said backhead, and a pair of defiector vanes oppositely disposed adjacent said fuel projecting means and pivotally mounted one on each side 'ist fof the conduit on iupstandng axes v disposed rearward lof said fuel projecting means, `the defiector varies being wholly disposed without `the .rebox 6. In combination, a firebox having-a Wall with .an opening therein, a conduit communicating with said opening, said .conduit being :formed with a top, a bottom, .and `opposite 'upright sidewalls, fuel vprojecting; means adjacent ithat fend of Vsaid. v.conduit which communicates with said opening, and a kpair of Vdefieetor `vanos oppositelyfdisposed ladjacent said .fuel projecting meansrandapvotally mounted one at each 'upright side Wall `of the conduit on upstanding axes disposed rearward of said fuel projecting means, ysaid varies vbeing Wholly disposed without vthe reboxiand arranged `to swing inwardly of the conduit laterally across .and v`over the conduit iioor about saidvaxes.

:ing means, said vanebeing Wholly disposed -With- ,out `the irebox Aand arranged to swing inwardly of the .conduit :and llaterally across and over the `conduit floor :about said axis.

NATHAN M. LOWER.

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